Red Deer Polytechnic Kings down Kodiaks in division semi-finals

Red Deer, AB - A pair of goals from Kings third-year forward Pedro Humberto Mourao Neto helped the home team down the Lethbridge College Kodiaks 5-1 in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men's Soccer South Division semi-finals.

The Kodiaks had a fast start, controlling more of the play early, but they couldn't solve Kings goalkeeper Jared St Thomas.

After the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings weathered that early surge, momentum began to shift on the home team's side.

Kings second-year midfielder Kaidri Bornyi rattled a shot off the right post, but the ball stayed out.

In the 32nd minute, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings broke the stalemate. From the right corner, Gabriel Martins Fonseca sent a cross in front and Humberto Mourao Neto deposited it behind Kodiaks goalkeeper Trey Lukye.

Gabriel Fleury de Queiroz put the Kings up by a pair in the 49th minute. Lukye couldn't reel in the ball from a shot from the side and the Business Administration General Management found the back of the net for a 2-0 edge.

Within four minutes of one another, Humberto Mourao Neto notched his second goal and Thomson Wellie pushed the Kings ahead 4-0.

Lethbridge College responded in the 76th minute. Jaden Veluw scored off a nice header, from a Ben Knight pass.

Three minutes later, Osvaldo Aguilar Herrera restored Red Deer Polytechnic's four goal lead. Humberto Mourao Neto recorded an assist.

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings solidified a 5-1 home win, earning a trip to the division finals.

The Kings outshot the Kodiaks 11-1.

Kristofer Grobmeier, a Bachelor of Education Secondary student, was named the North Star Sports Kings Player of the Game. Veluw, a fifth-year Nursing student, received the honour for the Kodiaks.

The Red Deer Polytechnic Kings will face the SAIT Trojans in the ACAC South Division finals. SAIT defeated Medicine Hat College 5-1.

The NAIT Ooks and Lakeland College Rustlers will clash in the ACAC North Division finals.